Untitled 1942

This untitled photograph was made by David Hare, an American artist associated with the Surrealist movement. Note the figure seated on a chair; her head and body are obscured by cloud-like ink blots. The blotting technique has roots in the "Rorschach test," devised by Hermann Rorschach in 1921. Rorschach, influenced by ideas of subconscious perception, believed that symmetrical inkblots could reveal hidden aspects of an individual's personality. Hare, like many Surrealists, was interested in these psychological theories. The inkblot is a visual echo of the ancient concept of the "prima materia," the primal, formless substance from which all things are created. Similarly, Carl Jung saw mandalas as a symbol for the "Self," the unifying center of personality. The inkblots in Hare's photograph invite viewers to project their own associations and emotions onto the image, engaging with the artwork on a deep, subconscious level, revealing hidden truths about themselves.